Self Directed Support (SDS) is about flexibility, choice and control, and having a decent quality of life. It is ultimately about promoting confidence and wellbeing for those with an assessed need.

It is also about designing a service that best meets the needs of the individual, rather than fitting people to existing care provision. For example, if you are a man in his 50s with early onset dementia you may not be keen on traditional dementia day care services. You may prefer to employ a support worker who can take you out and do the things that interest you, such as fishing, walking or photography.

If you have been assessed as needing community care services your social worker can organise services for you – meals on wheels, a support worker, attendance at a day care centre, personal care and so on. This arrangement might suit you but there are other options, and your social worker or care manager has a duty to explain these options to you. When someone has been assessed and allocated a budget by social services they will be given four options:

Option 1: Direct Payment

Instead of the social work department arranging services and paying for them, they can hand over the money that would have been spent on these services. This money is then used to pay for the support needed, at a time and place that suits the person who needs it. The direct payment can be used to:

• buy support from any service provider, such as a private care agency or a voluntary organisation
• employ someone as your personal assistant
• buy services from your local authority if they sell their services.

You can also use your direct payment to buy equipment to help with mobility or other needs. Although you can decide how and when you want to spend the money, the services or support you buy must be aimed at meeting the assessed needs.

Option 2: Individual Service Fund

You choose what support you would like and the local authority (or an agency) holds your budget and makes the arrangements on your behalf.

Option 3: Direct Service

The local authority selects the support and arranges it.

Option 4: Combination

You can also decide to have a mix of services – some provided directly by social work and some which you arrange and pay for yourself.

To provide more information on this the Scottish Government has produced national guides for people who use care and support services, Carers and health and social care professionals. The Service User Guide is a practical guide written for people who intend to organise and manage their own support. The Carers Guide is for Carers of people intending to organise and manage their own support arrangements. You can download it here. If you would like more information call our Carer Support Line on 01463 723560 or email us on carers@connectingcarers.org.uk.